Shaft-support for vehicles.



PATENTED J UNE 7, 1904.,

v ,1). H. Lovsmzss. SHAFT SUPPORT'FOR VEHIGLES.,

rum-r101 nun if. as. 1904.

I'nvento flflflove/easz UNITED STATES Patented June 7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H. ovELEss, or PROVQTUTAH, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To J.-J. KNIGHTAND A. A. LovELEss, OF PROVO, UTAH.

SHAFT-SUPPORT FOR VEHI CLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 761,688, dated une 7,1904:.

Application filed January 28, 1904. Serial No. 191,006. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

' act description of the invention, such as will 1 enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This lnvention relates to improvements in shaft or thill supports forvehicles.

. The object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich may be applied to vehicles with the members of the support sodisposed that when the shafts or tongue of the vehicle is raised saidmembers will become engaged and will hold said shafts or tongue in itsraised position.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will besimple in con struction, strong and durable, readily applied, and welladapted to the use forwhich it is designed. 7

iVith these and other objects in-view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the device,showing the application of the same to the axle and shaft of a vehicle.Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective viewof the axle member of the device, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of theshaft'member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the shafts, and 2denotes the axle, of a-vehicle. On'the axle is secured a clip 3, to thelower horizontal bar4'of which is formed a lateral extension 5, to whichis secured an upwardly projecting catch 6, which consists ofspring-fingers 7, curved outwardly or bowed near their upper ends toform an eye 8. The upper ends of the fingers 7 are flared outwardly, asshown at 9, to facilitate the engagement therewith of the shaft memberof the support. The shaft member toward and from the shaft. bracket isadj ustably'secured a catchengagconsists of an attaching-bracket 10,-having laterally-projecting right-angularly-disposed' pass the usualT-bolts, which secure the thillcoupling iron to the shaft and which alsosecure the bracket 10 in place, the slots 13 permitting the bracket tobe adjusted laterally To the side of the ing element which consists of aring or loop 14,

which when the shafts are raised will be forced between the flaring endsof the spring-fingers 7 and enter the eye 8. The opposite end of thecatch-engaging element is bent to form a head 15, in which is formed anelongated open ing 16. A bolt 17 is passed through one of a series ofadjusting-holes 17 in the side of the bracket 10, and with said bolt isengaged the s elongated opening 16, whereby the catch-engaging elementmay be adjusted lengthwise holes 17, into which the bolt 17 may beshifted. -On the outer end of the bolt-17 is screwed a nut 18, andbetween the ,nut and the head 15 is disposed an elongated washer 19,which extends across the head 15, as shown, to brace and firmly hold thesame in place.

The axle member of the support is secured with the-side of the shafts,which are then raised, and the catch-engaging element is adjusted inposition to pass between the springfingers of the catch and when in thisposition is secured by the clamping-washer 19, so that when the shaftsare raised the ring or loop 14 of the catch-engaging element will beforced between the flaring ends of the spring-fingers 7 and into the eye8. The spring-fingers 7 are of sufiici'ent strength to support theweightshafts in an elevated position, but are sufficiently elastic topermit the ring or loop 14 to be readily withdrawn from the eye 8 tolower the shafts.

-While the spring-fingers 7 of the shaft member is here shown as formedon an independent axle-clip, they may, if desired, be formed along theshaft, additional adjustment of the catch-engaging element beingafforded by the .80 tothe axle at a position approximately in line on ora part of the thill-eoupling clip. It will also be obvious that withslight modifications in the attaching means the device' will be equallyadapted for supporting the pivoted tongues of vehicles.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood Without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLettcrs P atent, is

1. In a shaft-support, the combination with the axle and shafts of avehicle, of a catch upon the axle, a supporting-bracket attached to andlaterally adjustable upon the shafts, and an engaging member adapted tocooperate with said catch and adjustable longitudinally of the shafts onsaid bracket.

2. In a shaft-support, the combination with the axle and shafts of avehicle, of a catch carried by the axle, and a cooperating engagingdevice carried by the shafts, said engaging device comprising a bracketsecured to and laterally adjustable upon the shafts, a catch-engagingelement having a head provided with a longitudinal slot,a fasteningpassing through said head and the bracket and connecting thecatch-engaging member thereto and so as to be longitudinally adjustablethereon, and a Washer bearing against said head and engaging saidfastening to hold the parts securely in adjusted position.

3. In a shaft-support, the combination with the axle and shafts of avehicle, of an axle member comprising a clip, upwardly-projecting springcatch-fingers formed on the cross bar or plate of said clip, a shaftmember comprising a bracket having laterally-projectiug slottedshaft-engaging members whereby the same is adjustably secured to saidshaft, a catch-engaging element having a ring or loop formed on one endand an attaching-howl formed on the opposite end, an elongated openingformed in said head to engage a bolt on said bracket, whereby saidcatch-engaging element is adjustably connected to the bracket, and meanswhereby said element is clamped in its adjusted positions, substantiallyas described. v

I. In ashaft-support, the combination with the axle and shafts of avehicle of an axle member, comprising a clip having a springcatch formedthereon, a shaft member comprising a bracket adjustably secured to saidshafts, a catch-engaging element having a ring or loop formed on one endand an attachinghead formed on the opposite end, an elongated openingformed in said head to engage a bolt on said bracket whereby saidcatch-engaging element is adjustably secured to the bracket, anelongated clamping-washer arranged over said attaching-head, one end ofsaid washer engaging the aforesaid boltand being secured thereon by anut, and a bolt and nut arranged in said bracket to engage the oppositeend of said elongated washer whereby upon the screwing up of said nutsaid washer will be clamped against said attaching-head to hold saidcatch-engaging element in adjusted posi tions, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

DAVID H. LOVELICSS.

VV'tnesses:

W. (J. STONE, VICTOR DALLIN,

